Inner monologues...how do YOU think?

**Daisy Hill** · 12.08.24, 06:11 PM

Something that is kind of controversial lately is the claim by psychologists that not all people have an inner monologue. In fact, the claim is that between 30-50% of people do not experience an inner monologue.

What is an inner monologue? It is a way of thinking by hearing words, or as you think or go about your day, your activities are narrated to you by an inner voice...the monologue. It is claimed that as high as 50% of people do not think this way, but instead their thoughts are shapes or feelings or... I don't know what.

An example of an inner monologue is how do you process this post for example. As you read this, do you hear an inner voice reading it to you? As you go about your day do you hear words like, "I need to go to the kitchen and check if I have enough mayo to make potato salad tomorrow" "Yep that should do it" Or is your brain "silent" and you just go to the kitchen to check on the mayo because you imagine mayo or picture mayo and know that you are planning to make potato salad?

I am an inner monologue person. I hear my voice reading to me as I type this and I hear my voice from the moment I wake up ( dammit! Why didn't my alarm go off?) well, that is not really true. The first thing I hear is some random song that is stuck in my brain, THEN I start talking to myself. I'm still talking to myself when I go to bed

I thought everyone thought the way I do and I find it hard to believe people DON"T talk to themselves.

So, are you an inner monologue person or a silent brain kind of person. And if you do not have an inner monologue, could you please explain to me how the heck you get thru a day? If the statistics are true, 30-50% of you have nothing going on in your brain. So lets see if the statistics hold up

**CaboChris** · 12.08.24, 06:15 PM

FFS! There's a name to this?

Ugh

**VH1986** · 12.08.24, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by CaboChris

FFS! There's a name to this?

Ugh

Was that your inner monologue coming out?

**CaboChris** · 12.08.24, 06:20 PM

I'm confused now. A voice internally? What im doing now...is whispering what im typing. People have asked others if I'm on drugs because I'm whispering all my texts and posts. I audibly do it

"No, that's just Chris".

**VH1986** · 12.08.24, 06:20 PM

I have an inner monologue. It's quite witty, actually. I laugh at and talk with myself throughout the day.

**CaboChris** · 12.08.24, 06:22 PM

I talk to myself all day if im alone. Is that different than inner monologuing?

**Daisy Hill** · 12.08.24, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by CaboChris

I'm confused now. A voice internally? What im doing now...is whispering what im typing. People have asked others if I'm on drugs because I'm whispering all my texts and posts. I audibly do it

"No, that's just Chris".

no this is not actually speaking, that is just talking to yourself. And lots of people read aloud. This is a voice,usually one that represents your own, basically narrating your activities

**CaboChris** · 12.08.24, 07:26 PM

No. I don't hear any actual audible voice inside my head.

**Simon Ribeiro** · 12.09.24, 04:03 AM

Originally Posted by VH1986

Was that your inner monologue coming out?

**Simon Ribeiro** · 12.09.24, 04:08 AM

Inner monologue in english and other languages? ALL of the time.

Silent brain most of the times in portuguese. Exception made when I'm reading.

And I do talk to myself a lot!

**Simon Ribeiro** · 12.09.24, 04:09 AM

Originally Posted by Daisy Hill

no this is not actually speaking, that is just talking to yourself. And lots of people read aloud. This is a voice, usually one that represents your own, basically narrating your activities.

Reminds me of Stranger than Fiction!! What a kick ass movie!!!